The Washington critic., 1887-07-18
TOPICS OF THE DAY.

A keen eye to business was one of
the strong points of the late Ben IIalli.
day, says Chicago Tribune corre-
spondent; An exTreasury Auditor,
who is still living in Washington,
sometimes tells his friends of an expe-
rience which proves this. In the early
days of the Pacific railroads some of
the men who were pushing the enter.
prise stopped at the Auditors house.
The railroads bonds were gotten up
in the best style of the engraver's art,
and one Of them pleasing the eye of his
little girl It was given her as play.
thing. At that time the value of the
bond was not worth much more than
the paper 1t was printed on. When the
child got tired of her pretty plaything,
the mother, as careful housewife, put
1t away in tin box along with other
things. Nobody ever thought of
the bond again till the girl had
grown to n young woman, and
was about TO be married. Then the
mother, in looking over the mementos
of the past, came across the old Pacific
Railroad bond. She had dim idea 1t
might be worth something and took 1t
to her husband He laughed at the
notion and was going to toss the bond
into the fire, but his wife interfered.
She knew 1t was too valuable to burn,
and proposed that her daughter should
have II as marriage portion. Finally
the husband was persuaded to take the
bond to persons who would know II 1t
had any market value. But they were
skeptical, and the auditor was about to
give up in disgust when he ran across
Ben Halliday. If anyone knew the
worth of Pacific Railroad bonds, he
thought, it ought to be the old man.
Halliday showed languid curiosity,
and casually remarked that the bond
might be good for little something If
its owner had time to trace 1t back.
How much did he think 1t was worth?
Oh, perhaps $50 or 800 on the thou.
sand. Wouldn't he give 800? Well,
perhaps to oblige friend he would.
And he did. The face of the bond was
for $4,000, and the happy Auditor was
soon cashing $500 check. His
daughter got this as her marriage por.
tion, and the story was told to a few
friends as an illustration of the good
luck which some people had. A year
or so later some California people had
business with the Auditor aud he in.
cidentally told them about the bond.
They were all interested. Good
bargain, wasn't il?" he asked, when he
finished. "Yes, for Halliday" replied
one Of the CAliiornians. How so?"
"Well, that bond was worth $1,000.
II must have helped old Ben nightly
just at that time
~.
For time during his first years in
Congress, says Washington special
to the New York Tribune, Mr.. Ste.
phens was member of what was
known as the Supreme Court Mess"
where he formed the acquaintance of
William M. Evarts and Morrison II.
Waite. who were In Washington at.
tending to business in the Supreme
Court and who were members of the
same "mess." Another member of the
''mess' was Allen Owen of Georgia, a
classmatc of Mr.. Eyarts and Mr.. Waite
at Yale. The three lawyers were in
Innate friends. Owen died about the
close Of the war and left two daughters
in destitute circumstances. They made
their way to Savannah and at last sue
ceeded In reaching New York, where
they made themselves and their condi.
tion known to Mlr. Evarts, who imme.
diately interested himself in their behalf
and obtained situations for them In one
of the Government offices. Mr. Stephens
added; when Mr.. Waite came
TO Washington after his appointment
and confirmation as Chief Justice the
first thing he did was to find and call
upon the daughters of his old class
mates, and his second call was upon the
rebel Vice President, being Ill at the
time" Mr.. Stephens related this an.
ecdote about Benton: when Benton
was on his death bed he sent for George
w. Jones and myself. He asked me
TO complete and publish the last five
volumes of his 'Abridgment of the
Debates in Congress, which he did not
live to see published, and | undertook
and performed the task. To Mr.. Jones
the dying Senator gave several COM
missions. Among the things he
said was this, as well as | can
recall the words; Il have been long
in public life-thirty years Senator
of the United States. desire 1t to be
made known that despite all the excite
ments and temptations Incident to my
career there are two places IN which !
have never been in my life. / have
never been in gam bling house, nor II;
delegate in National Convention Ia
nominate a candidate for the Presidency
both Of which places hold In equal
abhorrence. Mr.. Stephens said that
his view of National Conventions ex,
aclly agreed with that so torclbly
expressed by Mr.. Benton.
~.
Another American artist is soon to
return home, says Theodore Stanton in
recent Paris letter | refer to Mr..
Daniel g, French, the sculptor, whose
heroic size statue of General Cass is
now nearly completed. Great in.
provements have, of course, been made
IN the work since last mentioned It
in these columns, and sturdy old Lewis
Cass will not bG the least attractive
figure in the Capitol rOtunda where
Mr. French's admirable creation will
finally be placed. Among Mr., French s
callers the other day was one of his
former teachers, Mr.. j. Q. a. Ward,
who, il is. reported, has come over
here to make statue of Henry
Ia little truth in this rumor,
Mr.. Ward says he is here "to
study sculpture" very modest re.
mark, which reminds mo of some
what similar reply which Mr. Ward